😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $346 in Khulna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $539 in Khulna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Khulna, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 149% more than Khulna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Khulna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Khulna74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$1.22৳150
60.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$7.29৳898
151.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$4.21৳519
77.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.20৳272
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.68৳823
-
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$0.81৳99.3
149.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.24৳29.36
254.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$0.14৳16.70
157.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.67৳83.0
146.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.45৳55.6
248.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$0.57৳69.8
108.77%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$1.09৳135
77.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$8.94৳1,102
81.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$2.61৳322
14.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$6.01৳741
82.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$2.16৳266
25.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$0.60৳74.6
95.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$1.98৳244
-14.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.67৳82.8
138.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.33৳40.78
318.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$0.60৳73.8
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.72৳88.2
-6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.30৳36.45
86.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$8.31৳1,025
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.31৳285
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.68৳823
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$2.90৳358
60.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$0.21৳25.33
319.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$8.32৳1,026
132.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$0.38৳47.11
257.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.28৳34.69
378.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$2.83৳350
190.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.03৳126
18.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$23.1K৳2.8M
-7.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$19.3K৳2.4M
16.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$38.05৳4,691
85.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$5.34৳658
162.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$19.98৳2,463
-12.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$13.70৳1,689
207.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$12.22৳1,506
-43.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$3.99৳492
48.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$26.00৳3,205
1086.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$1,355৳167.1K
997.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$28.19৳3,476
97.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$36.38৳4,485
-28.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$32.29৳3,981
157.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$34.26৳4,224
105.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$65.5৳8,075
559.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$42.38৳5,225
463.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$161৳19.8K
411.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$98.6৳12.2K
419.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Khulna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$143৳17.7K
304.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
10
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Khulna: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $65.5 in Khulna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 304% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Khulna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $110 – making Khulna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Chiang Mai vs Khulna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Khulna?
Chiang Mai costs about 149% more than Khulna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Khulna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $520 in Khulna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Khulna?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khulna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Khulna?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Khulna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Khulna?
Groceries cost about 121% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Khulna?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $346 in Khulna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Khulna?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khulna costs $346 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Khulna?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Khulna?
If budget matters most, go with Khulna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared